It’s a scorching hot, dry summer day in South Gate and the Los Angeles River is roaring with the kind of exuberant music-making perhaps not seen since the Tongva built life along the L.A. basin. More than 5,000 people are in attendance at the “first annual” SELA Art Festival to witness the likes of Buyepongo, Quetzal, The Altons, Culture Clash, and Weapons of Mass Creation.

(Los Angeles) - To help celebrate the cultures and communities that make up South East Los Angeles, artist Eric Contreras sat down with KMEX Univision to talk about the 2018 SELA Arts Festival and the importance of open spaces for the community to express themselves.